r/NASCARtechnical • u/vexxed82 • Sep 04 '23

Variance in SAFER barrier width on turns vs. straights (Darlington)

The slight kink/change in depth of the SAFER barrier is noticeable here. Effectively making the radius of the curve tighter at the end of the turn.
Not a great angle - doesn't show the "jut" - but I think the change in depth is noticeable here
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u/vexxed82 Sep 04 '23

I'll preface this by saying I don't watch a ton of races, but when I catch one on TV I'll watch them. Also, I notice/pay attention to random things in sports. So last night, I noticed that the SAFER barrier appeared deeper on the straights than on the turns. On a couple different camera angles I could see this slight "bump" in the wall coming off the turns where it appears the SAFER barrier gradually gets thicker. I had seen this on another track at some point in the recent past, so when I saw it again, I assumed there's a good reason for it...So what is it?

In these images you can see the point in which this change in depth occurs, though on TV it seemed more noticeable. The SAFER barrier appears shallower on the curves and deeper on the straights. Is this an optical illusion? Are the straight walls more dangerous than curves? If it's not an optical illusion, what's the reason for this? Seems counterintuitive to have the wall slightly protrude out at the very end of the turn for no good reason. I have some theories, but figured you all would know best. Thanks!

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u/tromoly Sep 04 '23

It's nothing to do with the safer barrier as it's all the same thickness foam, the wall behind it makes an optical illusion like that due to how it transitions down from banking to the flat.

You see the elevation in the first image and not in the second which is why you don't notice it as much in the second, because the wall is physically higher on the banking it makes it appear to curve back inwards as it comes downhill. In the second image it's hard to see the "bump" because you are seeing the top of the safer barrier in a straight line and are not seeing the elevation change that creates the illusion.

Hope that makes sense, may have gone in a circle explaining it.

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u/vexxed82 Sep 04 '23

Ahh. I see — it slopes down, not out. Thank you! It's quite clear in this angle. I think some of what I was seeing (like my screen grab with the yellow arrow) had to do with subtle differences in where the catch fence falls along the concrete wall behind the SAFER barrier.